Digital hearing aids are sophisticated electronic devices that deliver sound to the brain - and developments over the past decade have produced an astonishing array of life-changing options. You’re likely to find that a particular design solution appeals and agrees with you - one that’s ideal for your needs, lifestyle and hearing ability. Available in a variety of discreet styles and colours, there are a few general types of hearing devices. On this page we’ve decoded some of the semantics you might’ve come across
Daily Wear - these are removed at night when you sleep
Extended Wear - Lyric is a great example of a hearing aid that can remain in your ear canal for days
Wireless compatible & Internet Connected - in many premium hearing devices, this is now standard
IIC
‘Invisible in the ear canal’ hearing aids are custom-crafted to fit discreetly inside your ear. There are no switches or buttons to control and they adapt automatically as sounds and places change, so you can stay effortlessly active and confident of your hearing ability in any situation. Fitted inside your ear, an IIC has no impact on using headphones or telephones, how you do your hair or even wearing glasses. Removing it at night is simplified by the attachment of a thin transparent string.
Discreet - Custom crafted
Custom built hearing aids are designed specifically for your ears. These styles are suitable for specific kinds of hearing losses and are available in a variety of design aesthetics and skin tone colours. Some custom crafted solutions are designed using biometric calibration. Every ear is unique. (Even the left ear is ever so slightly different from the right.) The distinctive characteristics of our ear anatomy influences how sound is captured, directed towards the ear drum and converted into information that the brain can understand so by using biometric technology, it’s now possible to utilise biometric data to customise hearing aids to a specific individual. Learn more about Biometric Calibration for hearing aids here.Watch a video explaining the different shell types.
CIC
‘Completely in the canal’) hearing aids are extremely small, custom crafted devices designed to sit in the ear canal.
ITC
ITC's - ‘in the canal’ - are also designed to sit discreetly in the ear canal. They’re slightly bigger than CIC devices but are still discreet, offering features like longer battery life and wireless functionality.
ITE
‘In the ear’ hearing aids are slightly larger than CIC’s and ITC’s. They are easier to handle and use a larger battery, delivering more power. This kind of hearing aid is custom-made to fit snugly into the outer portion of the ear canal - often referred to as a "full shell" or "custom" hearing aid.
Mini RITE
RITE is shorthand for ‘receiver in the ear’. Designed to be totally unnoticeable, mini RITE hearing aid styles deliver the most uncompromising performance whilst still being discreet, challenging many "deep-in-the-ear" instruments. Solutions offered by our clinic deliver the optimal combination of audiological features, binaural wireless capabilities and comfort. Mini RITE’s do not require any complex impressions or custom moulding work and are easier to maintain.
RITE
RITE hearing aids are slightly larger than Mini RITE’s but are still extremely discreet.
Super Power RITE
Super Power RITE hearing devices sit behind the ear and are suitable for severe to profound hearing losses. These powerful devices are comfortable to use and make it possible to hear speech clearly and naturally, and with no distortion. They also deliver wireless capabilities so you are able to access mobile phones, TV’s, PC’s and other tech via your hearing aid. Daily wear hearing aids are powered by batteries. There are four battery sizes. Each has its own colour code which is identifiable on the battery package. The size of battery depends on the style of the hearing aid.
How long do hearing aid batteries last?
There are many factors that affect how long a hearing aid battery lasts. Your type of hearing loss, usage time, humidity and instrument features are just a few of the things to take into account.There is no single solution for all hearing aid wearers. The best way to understand the battery life that you can expect, is to benchmark your individual battery performance over a period of time. Our clinic offers a useful fact sheet on factors that affect hearing aid battery power.
Lyric
Lyric is completely invisible and is the world’s first hearing aid that can be worn for extended periods of time. No one can see how well you can hear 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
Working with MED-EL, the world’s technology leader in the field of implantable hearing solutions, we are able to advise on the most suitable implant system for a range of hearing losses. For patients meeting the criteria for these innovative solutions we offer comprehensive pre-operative audiological assessments, post-operative audio processor fitting, and ongoing rehabilitation and support. All implantable solutions supported by us involve a day-surgery procedure performed under general or local anaesthesia, at a London-based private hospital. In offering these solutions, The Well Being BY CUBEX is proud to partner with some of the most respected and experienced ENT surgeons in the UK.